Stories Archive - Page 158 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy Hussey

Surname: Hussey

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
High Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
London
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury

Story:
Percy Hussey was born in 1894 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of George Hussey, a bus driver, and Annie Hussey (née White). His father died in 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a Domestic Stable Boy and living with his mother and two siblings at 9 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury. He moved to London obtaining work as a Hotel Employee and enlisted there on 2nd September 1914, joining the 9th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) (Service No. B/2809). His mother had by then moved to 57 High Street, Shaftesbury. Percy was posted for home duty on 4th September 1914 and on 21st May 1915 he joined the British Expeditionary Force, serving in France and Flanders. Here he was presumed killed in action on 25th September 1915. On 16th October, 21 days later his sister, Edith Mary Hussey, wrote to his unit: "I am writing for my mother to know if you can give me any news of my brother Percy Hussey 2809, 9th Rifle Brigade 42 Light Infantry Brigade 14th Light Division France as we have had a letter from his chum saying he is wounded. We enquired at the War Office and Red Cross and they referred us to you. We should be most grateful if you would let us know any news of him." There is no copy of the Military reply remaining. Percy was awarded the British War and Victory Medals as well as the 1915 Star. His name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium (Panel 46-48 & 50). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Following Percy's death his mother was awarded a pension of 4s. 6d (22 1/2p.) per week. By 1921 she was still at 57 High Street, Shaftesbury, working on her own account as a Dressmaker. Living with her were her daughter and son, Robert, who was incapacitated. His mother died in 1936.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Bertram Keast

Surname: Keast

Other names: Bertram

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Essen, Germany
London
Dorchester
Paschendaele, Flanders

Story:
Bertram Keast was born on 10th October, 1889 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 17th November, 1889. He was the son of Samuel John Keast, a law clerk, and Emily Keast (née Taylor). He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1899 to July 1906. After leaving school he became a schoolmaster and then entered a solicitor's office, first in London and later in Dorchester. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single and living in the family home at 7 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. On 28th December, 1914 he married Kate Taylor and they had one child, a son. On his marriage certificate he gives his occupation as Solicitor's Clerk. He enlisted in Dorchester and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18584) as a Private. He later transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (New Service No. 31066) and went on to serve in France and Flanders being promoted to Lance Corporal. Bertram and Kate's son Maurice was born on 16th February 1917. Official records show that Bertram died on October 26th 1917 although this may be the day on which he was reported missing. The Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine gives some details: "Bertram Keast was shot in the left arm on the Paschendale front, on October 26th, 1917, and taken prisoner." According to this account he was transported to Germany and died there on November 5th. He was buried in the civilian churchyard at Essen. Bertram was awarded the Victory and British War medals and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 38 to 40). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. His widow received a pension of £1. 0s. 5d. (£1.02p) which expired in 1933 by then she had remarried Ernest Ridgeway in 1926. The June 1917 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine mentions a donation by Bertram's father: "A framed list of the names of over 160 boys on active service, now adorns our Schoolroom wall. It was written by Mr. S.J. Keast, and presented by him to the School. We offer him our grateful thanks for his most artistic production, which is one more proof of the great interest he always takes in all that concerns the School." In Gold Hill Museum there is a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys who served in the forces, updated throughout the war, but it is not known if this is the work of Mr. Keast. Bertram's name was included and an asterix can be seen next to his name, indicating that he had died. Printed Source: Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919 Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917

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Shastonian

Charlie Stephen King

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: King

Other names: Charlie Stephen

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sunderland War Hospital, Northumberland
Holy Trinity Churchyard, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
Bay, Gillingham
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
Charlie Stephen King was born on 18th October 1888 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. (Note the family lived during his early life in Gillingham, Dorset.) He was the son of Stephen King, a painter, and Virtue King (née Hanks). His mother, Virtue, died in 1893 and was buried on 10th August, 1893. His father remarried on 28th August, 1897 to Emily Ann Chapple. On 17th October, 1909, Charlie married Bessie Imber and they had three children: two girls and a boy. Their first child, Dorothy Edith was born in 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census Charlie was working for a railway company as a house painter and the family were living in Bay, Gillingham, Dorset. Later in the year their son Charlie John was born and the family moved to 5 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Charlie enlisted on 11th December, 1915 but was not mobilized until 17th August 1916 as a Gunner in the 237th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 116267). He received gun shot wounds to his legs in Flanders on 17th August 1917. On 6th September he was transferred to the Sunderland War Hospital where he died of septicaemia and shell shock on 15th September 1917. He was buried south of the church in Holy Trinity Churchyard in Shaftesbury. (The name inscribed on the headstone was "C.R. KING" which differs from the name that appears on official documents. In 2018 this error was rectified with the erection of a new headstone, after a local resident contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.) He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Charlie is also remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials and on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church. His name can be seen on the Holy Trinity memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. At the time of Charles' death his wife Bessie was living at 5 Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury where a third child, Bessie Elizabeth, was born on 9th November 1917. Charles' widow was in receipt of a pension for herself and the three children of 26s. 3d. (£1.32p.) per week. His brother, Edmund Arnold King, served and survived but his half-brother, Arthur Stanley King, was also killed in action in Flanders. His mother continued to live in Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, certainly up until 1939 and did not remarry.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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William Edwin Large

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Sussex Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Large

Other names: William Edwin

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Edwin Large was born in 1883 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 20th May, 1883. (On all the Census records he is known in the family as Edwin, although the army records show his full name, William Edwin.) He was the son of Frederick William Large, a house painter, and Ellen Large (née Alner). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a house painter and living at 22 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment (Service No. G/11252). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 10th September 1916 whilst being treated at the 88th Casualty Clearing Station for wounds received in battle on the Somme and was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France (grave id. IV.C.4). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother received a pension as a result of his death paid until her death on 21 Dec 1925.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Sidney Rex Lawson

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Lawson

Other names: Sidney Rex

Locations in this story:
Morpeth, Northumberland
France & Flanders
Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flandser
Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Sidney Rex Lawson was born in December 1893 in Morpeth, Northumberland. He was the son of Thomas James Lawson, a house carpenter, and Mary Jane Lawson (née Kirkup). At the time of the 1911 Census, Sidney was working as a house carpenter and living at Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland. He enlisted in Shaftesbury with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16466) and at the time of his death he held the rank of Sergeant. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 18th June 1917 and was buried at Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. A.1). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial. He also appears as "E.Rex Lawson" and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother received his effects following his death as his sole legatee.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Gilbert John Maidment

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Ann Symons

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Gilbert John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Jutland
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Oysters Cottages, Semley
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Catherine's Churchyard, Sedgehill
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Gilbert John Maidment was born on 5th April, 1900 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire and baptised there on 17th June, 1900. He was the son of William Gilbert Maidment, a farm labourer, and Ellen Caroline Maidment (née Sheppard). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Oysters Cottages, Semley. He enlisted on 18th October 1915 as a Boy 1st Class in the Royal Navy (Service No. J//45254) and was posted to HMS Impregnable for training. He died at sea aboard HMS Indefatigable at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 at 16 years of age. His name appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 13). His ship was part of the first wave of the Battle Cruiser Fleet and was the third ship to be sunk that day with the loss of 1017 lives and only two survivors who themselves were taken prisoner. When his mother was notified of his death she was living at 53, St. Andrew's Yard, St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials. He also appears on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Gilbert's name was included on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church, Semley. When his sister Rose Mary Maidment died in 1923 a memorial to Gilbert was inscribed on her headstone in St. Catherine's churchyard, Sedgehill:
GILBERT JOHN MAIDMENT WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE JUTLAND BATTLE MAY 31ST 1916.
HE WAS BOY 1ST CLASS IN THE ROYAL NAVY ON H.M.S. INDEFATIGABLE.
BORN APRIL 5TH 1900.
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HOME AND COUNTRY

Images:

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Arthur Edwin Mayo

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Ann Symons

Surname: Mayo

Other names: Arthur Edwin

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders
Layton Cottages, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Arthur Edwin Mayo was born on 8th October, 1895 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29th December,1895. He was the son of Edwin Mayo, a plumber, and Georgina Mayo (née Mullins). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a printer's apprentice and living at 2 Layton Cottages, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards (Service No. 17092). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was presumed killed in action on 17th September 1917 and as his body was not recovered his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders (Panels 9 to 10). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Inside St. James' Church his name also appears on the Roll of Honour and is commemorated on a Stations of the Cross plaque. His mother was eventually in receipt of a pension commencing at 3s. 6d. (17 1/2p) per week. Arthur's brother Ernest (b.1898) also served in the war, with the Machine Gun Corps.

Images:

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Ernest Mayo

Frederick Miller

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Miller

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Whitfield, Northants
France & Flanders
Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension, Mesnil, Somme, France
Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Miller was born in 1899 in Whitfield, Northants. He was the son of Frederick Nichols Miller, a Grocer, and Edith Miller (nee Hedges). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants. He enlisted in Coventry (giving Shaftesbury, Dorset, as his residence) as a Private in the 35th T.R. Battalion of the Dorsethsire Regiment (Service No. 31498). He later transferred as a Rifleman to the 1st Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (New Service No. 44994). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 1st April 1918 and buried at Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extn., Mesnil, Somme, France (grave id. II.C.14). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His personal effects were eventually sent to his father.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Frederick Charles George Morgan

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Berkshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Morgan

Other names: Frederick Charles George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, France
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick Charles George Morgan was born on 1st October, 1898 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 30th October,1898. He was the son of Charles John Morgan, a furnaceman, and Mary Ellen Morgan (née Mullens). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Territorial Force on 13 Nov 1915, giving his address as 27 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3689) but was discharged almost immediately as being underage on 16 Nov 1915. He re-enlisted in time and joined the 2nd Battalion of Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 38573). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He went missing and was presumed killed in action at the Somme, France, on 2nd April 1918 and his name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, France (Panels 56 & 57). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His father eventually received a pension of 5s. (25p) per week. (Many of the records refer to Frederick with differing third christian names(either James or John) but his given address in Shaftesbury remain constant.)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Edwin George Mullins

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Mullins

Other names: Edwin George

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme
Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury
Half Moon Inn, Cann
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury

Story:
Edwin George Mullins was born on 1st October, 1889 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised at St Rumbolds Church, Cann, Shaftesbury on 3rd November, 1889. He was the son of George Richard Stephen Mullins, a Jobmaster, and Ellen Rosa Mullins (nee Gamlin). At the time of the 1911 Census Edwin was boarding at the Half Moon Inn, Cann, Shaftesbury working as a cab driver. He enlisted in Shaftesbury on 31 Aug 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10354). He remained the the UK until posted to the Balkans Region on 1 Jul 1915 and was involved in the Gallipoli campaign following which his unit was transferred to the Somme Region in France on 3 Jul 1916 by then Edwin held the rank of Lance Corporal. He went missing and was presumed killed in action on 26th September 1916 his name appearing on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier & Face 7 B). He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Of his brothers, Frank Mullins also served but survived. (There is correspondence on his military record that shows his brother, Harry Mullins, had received his medals unbeknown to his mother. One wonders if the matter was resolved in the family!)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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